Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho (Photo: Yonhap)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vice Ministerof Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho on May 8 reiterated the Republic of Korea (RoK)'spolicy commitment to deepening ties with the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and Eurasian countries for regional peace and prosperity.
Speaking at a forum on the RoK’s NewSouthern and Northern Policies involving the above-said countries, Leehighlighted the Korean government's wish to expand cooperation with them inpeople-to-people exchanges, trade, development and other areas.
The Korean government will mobiliseall of its capabilities to implement the policies, he told the forum hosted bythe state-run Korean National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul.
These are the core policies thatreflect the Korean government's will to contribute to prosperity in Asia and inEurasia based on peace on the Korean Peninsula, he added.
Lee said that the RoK will push toincrease the combined number of Korean tourists to ASEAN countries and visitorsfrom the regional bloc to 15 million in 2020 from 10 million recorded lastyear.
The East Asian country also expects toboost trade with ASEAN to 200 billion USD by 2020 from 160 billion USD lastyear, he added.
In addition, the RoK will seek to furtherfoster trade and other exchanges with Russia, particularly as the two countriesprepare to mark the 30th founding anniversary of diplomaticrelations in 2020.
The New Southern Policy seeks tobeef up cooperation with the 10-member ASEAN, an increasingly crucial partnerdue to its economic potential, resources and growing diplomatic influence,while the New Northern Policy aims to strengthen economic cooperation withRussia and other Eurasian countries.-VNA
VNA
